• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.195-202
• /
• 2014

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder related to insulin resistance, obesity, and inflammation. Genetic and environmental factors also contribute to the development of MetS, and through genome-wide association studies (GWASs), important susceptibility loci have been identified. However, GWASs focus more on individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), explaining only a small portion of genetic heritability. To overcome this limitation, pathway analyses are being applied to GWAS datasets. The aim of this study is to elucidate the biological pathways involved in the pathogenesis of MetS through pathway analysis. Cohort data from the Korea Associated Resource (KARE) was used for analysis, which include 8,842 individuals (age, $52.2{\pm}8.9years$ ; body mass index, $24.6{\pm}3.2kg/m^2$). A total of 312,121 autosomal SNPs were obtained after quality control. Pathway analysis was conducted using Meta-analysis Gene-Set Enrichment of Variant Associations (MAGENTA) to discover the biological pathways associated with MetS. In the discovery phase, SNPs from chromosome 12, including rs11066280, rs2074356, and rs12229654, were associated with MetS (p < $5{\times}10^{-6}$), and rs11066280 satisfied the Bonferroni-corrected cutoff (unadjusted p < $1.38{\times}10^{-7}$, Bonferroni-adjusted p < 0.05). Through pathway analysis, biological pathways, including electron carrier activity, signaling by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase cascade, PDGF binding, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, and DNA repair, were associated with MetS. Through pathway analysis of MetS, pathways related with PDGF, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and PPAR signaling, as well as nucleic acid binding, protein secretion, and DNA repair, were identified. Further studies will be needed to clarify the genetic pathogenesis leading to MetS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.165-169
• /
• 2005

This study was performed to offer effective basic data for selection and improvement of Korean dairy cattle through identifying distributional properties among candidate genes (bovine butyrophilin, signal transducers and activators of transcription 5a, and prolactin hormone). In this study, polymorphisms of candidate genes were identified and the relationships between loci and production traits of each gene were analyzed using frozen semen of Holstein bulls (19 proven and 77 candidates). In butyrophilin (BTN) locus, polymorphisms information contents (PIC) value of BTN2 (0.372) was higher than those of others (BTN1; 0.155, BTN3; 0.254, BTN4; 0.169). As a result of analysis of genotyping STAT5a, using single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) method and microsatellite locus, PIC values were 0.189 and 0.457, respectively. And PIC value of prolactin hormone gene was 0.176. In the relationships between genotypes and production traits, BTN3 was associated with 305-day production traits (p<0.05). PTAs for B allele were such as 110.43, 88.28 and 75.25 in BTN1, 3, 4 and these values were higher than those of A allele, but in the case of BTN2, A allele with 154.19 was higher than that of B allele. The results obtained from using candidate genes may be used as an useful index for the genetic improvement of dairy cattle population in Korea, and further studies are needed.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.167-171
• /
• 2005

We isolated the Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus(CGMMV) particles from watermelon leaves and designated as CGMMV-HY1 as a watermelon isolate and attempted to characterize the pathogenic isolate responsible for such an epidemic in watermelon and also to monitor dominant viral isolates in greenhouse. The watermelon plants infected with CGMMV generally showed mottle mosaic, mosaic, growth stunting, necrosis and deformed fruit. The reactions of indicator plants to CGMMV-HY1 were the local lesions on Nicotiana tabacum cv. White Burley, Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun, and Chenopodium amaranticola, and the mosaic symptoms only on Cucumis sativus, but the CGMMV-HY1 did not infect Nicotiana sylvesytis, Datura stramonium, Chenopodium quinoa, and Petunia hybrida. Purified virus particles were rod-shaped and about 300 nm long. The coat protein (CP) of purified CGMMV-HY1 was single band with molecular weight of about 16.5 kDa which was confirmed by western blot analysis probed with monoclonal antibody of CGMMV-HY1. The genomic and subgenomic RNAs of 6.4 kb and 0.75 kb were revealed by the electrophoresis on 1.2% formaldehydedenatured agarose gel. Viral and complementary CGMMV-specific primer sets were designed for spanning the genome using previously reported CGMMV sequences. A 464bp of CP gene of CGMMV-HY1 was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into PGEM-T easy vector. The nucleotide sequence of CP gene of CGMMV-HY1 shared 98%, 99%, and 100% identities with that of CGMMV strains W, KOM, and KW respectively. Based on these results, we identified CGMMV-HY1 as a CGMMV isolate of watermelon, a member of Tobamovirus.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.134-139
• /
• 2012

Objectives : Proinflammatory process has been implicated as an underlying mechanism of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Previous studies have suggested a possible role of lymphotoxin alpha (LTA) gene in the development of schizophrenia and have prompted further investigation in bipolar patients. Association of the LTA +252A/G polymorphism with susceptibility to bipolar I disorder itself as well as with vulnerability among a subset of psychotic bipolar patients were tested. Methods : DNA extraction was done by a standard method and genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 114 Korean patients with bipolar I disorder and 202 healthy controls. SPSS v18.0 was used for statistical analysis. Comparisons of the genotype and allele distributions in LTA +252A/G polymorphism were made using a chi-square test. The genotype and allele associations were also evaluated using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance was accepted when p was < 0.05. Results : No significant association was found between the LTA +252A/G polymorphism and bipolar disorder. However, LTA +252G allele was present with significantly higher frequency among bipolar patients with psychotic features compared to those without (${\chi}^2$ = 4.69, p = 0.034, OR = 2.495, 95% CI = 1.069-5.827). Conclusion : The results suggest that the allele LTA +252G of the polymorphism may be associated with the psychotic subset of bipolar disorder but not with bipolar I disorder itself. Adequately powered subsequent studies should be conducted.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.140-145
• /
• 2012

Objectives : ST8SIA2 (ST8 alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminide alpha-2, 8-sialyltransferase 2 gene) is located at 15q26, a susceptibility locus for schizophrenia. Some previous research had indicated that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of ST8SIA2 were associated with schizophrenia in Japanese and Chinese populations. We investigated the association between SNPs in the promoter region of ST8SIA2 and schizophrenia in the Korean population. Methods : The study subjects were 190 Korean patients with schizophrenia and 190 healthy controls. We performed allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic association analyses for rs3759916, rs3759915 and rs3759914 of ST8SIA2. All genotypes were determined by direct sequencing. Results : In the genotype-based analysis, rs3759914 showed a nominally significant association with schizophrenia under recessive genotypic model (p = 0.047). However, this association did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple testing. Both allelic and haplotype analyses did not show any significant association. Conclusions : These findings suggest that ST8SIA2 does not play a major role in the susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Korean population. Further studies with a larger number of subjects are required to definitively rule out minor effects of this gene on schizophrenia vulnerability.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.82-88
• /
• 2014

Objectives : The aim of our study was to investigate association of norepinephrine transporter gene (SLC6A2) polymorphism and side effects of osmotic-release oral system methylphenidate (OROS MPH) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods : We recruited drug naive children with ADHD (N=97). We administered OROS MPH by tolerable dosage. At week 8 of treatment, parents completed the Barkley's side effect rating scale. We analyzed two SLC6A2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs192303 and rs3785143, with blood of subjects. We compared the frequency and severity of each side effect among SLC6A2 genotypes of 2 SNPs. Results : In the analysis of frequency of each side effect, irritability differed according to rs192303 and rs3785143 genotype. In comparisons of severity, talking less and disinterest differed according to rs192303 genotype. In the case of rs3785143, severities of disinterest and irritability were involved with genotype. Conclusion : Side effects of OROS MPH showed an association with SLC6A2 genotype.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.156-162
• /
• 2007

Two lysis-defective but DNA synthesis non-defective temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of mycobacteriophage L1, L1G23ts23 and L1G25ts889 were found to be defective also in phage-specific RNA synthesis in the late period of their growth at 42$^{\circ}C$each to the extent of 50% of that at 32$^{\circ}C$The double mutant, L1G23ts23G25ts889 showed the ts defect in phage RNA synthesis that was nearly additive of those shown individually by the two single-mutant parents. Both G23 and G25 were shown to start functioning sometimes between 30 and 45 min after infection but the former gene might be dispensable after 45 min, while the latter was not. Northern analysis also shows that at 42$^{\circ}C$>, L1G23ts23 affects RNA synthesis more strongly than L1G25ts889 from L1 DNA segments that serve as the template for late gene transcription. Among the 21 virion and 12 non-virion late proteins synthesized by L1, L1G23ts23 is defective in the synthesis of at least 9 virion and all of non-virion proteins at 42$^{\circ}C$>. In contrast, L1G25ts889 is completely defective in synthesis of all the 33 late proteins. Possible roles of G23 and G25 in the positive regulation of transcription of different sets of late genes of L1 have been discussed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.439-448
• /
• 2003

The VP2 gene of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) Chinju which was previously detected in Chinju, Korea was cloned and sequenced to establish the information for the development of genetically engineered vaccines and diagnostic reagents against IBDV. The nucleotide sequence of the entire Chinju VP2 gene consisted of 1,356 bases long encoding 452 amino acids in a single open reading frame (ORF). It consisted of 368 adenine (27.1%), 363 cytosine (26.8%), 339 guanine (25.0%) and 286 thymine (21.1%) residues. The predicted $M_r$ of the Chinju VP2 protein was 48 kDa, and the protein contained 13 phosphorylation sites by protein kinase C, casein kinase II or tyrosine kinase, whereas 3 asparagine-linked glycosylation sites were recognized. The nucleotide sequence of Chinju VP2 ORF had a very close phylogenetic relationship with 98-99% homology to that of the very virulent IBDVs (vvIBDVs) HK46, OKYM, D6948, UK661, UPM97/61 and BD3/99. Also, the Chinju VP2 protein revealed a very close phylogenetic relationship with 99-100% homology to that of these vvIBDVs. The Chinju VP2 protein had 100% amino acid identity in the variable region of residues 206-360 with that of the D6948, HK46, OKYM and UK661, as well as 100% identity in two hypervariable regions of residues 212-224 and 314-324 with those of the D6948, HK46, OKYM, UK661, UPM97/61 and BD3/99. The amino acid sequence of the chinju VP2 protein contained a serine-rich heptapeptide of SWSASGS as in these vvIBDVs.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.281-285
• /
• 2005

Pod dehiscence (PD), defined as the opening of pods along both the dorsal and ventral sutures, causes the seed to shatter in the field before harvesting and results in loss of seed yields. However, breeding for resistance to PD is difficult due to the complicated genetic behavior and environmental interaction. The objective of the present research was to analyze the genetic behavior of PD for improving the breeding efficiency of resistance to PD in soybean. PD after oven-drying the sampled pod at $40^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours was the most reliable to predict the degree of PD tested in the field. Keunolkong, a dehiscent parent, was crossed with non-dehiscent parents, Sinpaldalkong and Iksan 10. Using their $F_1\;and\;F_2$ seeds, PD was measured after oven drying the pod at $40^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. The gene conferring PD behaved in different manners depending on the genetic populations. In the Keunolkong$\times$Sinpaldalkong population, PD seemed to be governed by single major recessive gene and minor genes, while several genes were probably involved in the resistance to pod dehiscence in the Keunolkong$\times$Iksan 10 population. Heritability for PD estimated in F2 population showed over $90\%$ in the two populations. High heritability of PD indicated that selection for resistance to PD should be effective in a breeding program. In addition, genetic mapping of quantitative locus (QTL) for PD in both populations may reveal that genes conferring PD are population-specific.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.113-117
• /
• 2009

Animals produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) using genetically modified cells are almost always transgenic, implying that this method is more efficient than the traditional pronuclear microinjection method. Most somatic cells for SCNT in animals are fetus-derived primary cells and successful gene integration in somatic cells will depend on transfection condition. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of electroporation (Microporator) and liposome reagents (F-6, F-HD, W-EX, W-Q, W-M) for tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) gene transfection and to estimate the overall efficiency of transfection of Korean native pig fetal fibroblast cells (KNPFF). Electroporation showed significantly higher transfection efficiency than liposome reagents with regard to the transfection of in vitro cultures in the early stages of development (41.7% with Microporator vs. 18.3% with F-6, 20.0% with F-HD 18.5% with W-EX, 5.0% with W-M and 6.3% W-Q,). Colonies identified as tPA-positives were treated once more with G418 for 10 to 14 days and growing colonies were selected again. When the cells of newly selected colonies were subjected to single-cell PCR, reselection of colonies following second round of G418 selection increased the rate of transgene integration per each colony. These results suggest that transfection with electroporation is the most efficient and the second rounds of G418 selection may be an effective method for transfection of porcine fetal fibroblast cells.